Pakistan hockey players ponder pullout over no dues

NEWDELHI: Uncertainty hung over the Pakistan hockey team’s participation in the upcoming Asian Games after the players threatened a pullout owing to non-payment of daily allowances for past six months.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said it was pinning its hopes on sponsors and a new government, expected to be led by one of the country’s biggest sporting icons, Imran Khan.

PHF has not paid the national team daily allowances for past six months, the total now amounting to more than ~8 lakh per player. They have played domestic as well as international tournaments like the Champions trophy during this period.

“We have decided that we will not travel to Indonesia if our dues are not paid. Our team has to depart on August 12 and we will wait till 10th.

Then only we will decide about our participation,” captain Mohammad Rizwan senior said from Karachi.When asked if the players will boycott training, he replied in the negative.

“We are training at the national camp in Karachi and will continue. Our preparation is good and you can expect exciting hockey from us,” he said.

The PHF, however, sounded optimistic. “We have talked to our sponsors and are confident that the issue will be resolved. Our players are determined to play and they are not greedy,” said Shahbaz Ahmed, secretary general of PHF.